Demountable side lug mounting for precision piston and cylinder devices

ABSTRACT

A mounting arrangement for piston and cylinder devices comprising; a generally U-shaped bar with the mid-portion of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;U&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; intended to span the end of a cylinder at the bottom thereof, and the two legs of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;U&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; intended to straddle the bottom portions of the side of the cylinder device, adjacent the end caps thereof. Fastener receiving openings extend through the legs of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;U&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; in a direction intended to be perpendicular to the length of the cylinder rod for fastening the cylinder to a supporting surface. In addition, fastener receiving openings extend through the mid-portion of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;U&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; intended to be in alignment with tie rods that hold opposite end caps of the cylinder together for fastening the mounting arrangement to the cylinder.

PATENTEnsEr 51m 3,688,646

INVENTORS.

FRANCIS S. FLICK RUSSELL F. PABST BY w,- y M, M 5 1%,

ATTORNEYS.

P'ATENTEDsEP 5 m2 SHEU 2 BF 2 MGI DEMOUNTABLE SIDE LUG MOUNTING FORPRECISION PISTON AND CYLINDER DEVICES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to piston and cylinderdevices, and more particularly to a mounting arrangement for a pistonand cylinder device.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art There are many different mountingarrangements for mounting cylinder devices to a support. Applicantsassignee makes a variety of such mountings as illustrated in its Miller"cylinder bulletins, which are available to the public.

One form of mounting arrangement made by applicants assignee has been a-so-called Model 72, wherein generally tetrahedronal lugs are disposedon opposite sides of the cylinders adjacent the opposite end caps of atie rod-type cylinder. These lugs have fastener receiving openingsextending therethrough, 2

generally transverse to the length of the cylinder rod. The NationalFluid Power Association (NFPA) has adopted standards for variousmounting styles as to their dimensions. These standards permit variousmanufacturers to equip their particularized piston and cylinder deviceswith styles of mountings permitting interchangeability in the field ofuse.

The particular mounting arrangement with which this invention isconcerned is given the name side lugs by the NFPA standards of Nov. 9,1969, such standards being presently in effect. Dimensions are given forcylinders rated as to nominal bore size. The dimensions that arespecified have to do with the distances between centerlines of mountingbolts which pass through whatever mounting structure is attached to thecylinder and the bolt diameter. Thus, for example, the distance betweencenterlines of mounting bolts, four in number located respectively atthe four corners of the cylinder, are given, as well as the distancebetween the centerline of the cylinder rod and the mounting surfaceattached to the cylinder. Any mounting conforming to these dimensionsought to fall within the standards, no effort being made to specifydesign of the mounting itself. Heretofore, side lug" mounts have beenwelded onto cylinders. The present mounting is demountable.

Thus, it is the object of this invention to meet the need and desire inthe art to provide an improved side lug mounting arrangement for apiston and cylinder device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to theprovision of an improved form of side lug mounting arrangement for apiston and cylinder device.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the inventionincludes the provision of a generally U-shaped bar, having a mid-portionwith apertures therethrough for receiving the tie rods of a piston andcylinder device so that the bar may be secured to the opposite end capsof a cylinder. The two legs of the U- shaped mounting arrangementstraddle the lower portion of the opposite sides of the end caps of thecylinder and have fastener receiving openings extending therethrough,generally transverse to the tie rod openings and the length of the rodof the cylinder, for fastening the cylinder device to a supportingsurface.

, 2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofthe mounting arrangement and a piston and cylinder device with which themounting arrangement is used; I

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the piston and cylinder device andmounting arrangement of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a piston and cylinder device andmounting arrangement of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the mounting arrangement of this invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that thepresent disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of theprinciples of the invention and is not intended to 0 limit the inventionto the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 21 and cylinder device isprovided with a linearly extensible piston rod 14, which extends througha bushing 16, in at least one of the end caps 18, which close theopposite ends of the cylinder tube 20. In a tie rod type cylinder, tierods 22 extend lengthwise of the cylinder, and hold the end capson thetube with the aid of tie rod nuts 24. Fluid ports 26 may be provided forpermitting the ingress and egress of fluid from the interior of thecylinder tube. As is well known, in operation,' when fluid underpressure is admitted through ports 26, it exerts a force against apiston element inside the tube 20, which is connected to'the rod 14.This causes the rod 14 to move linearly with respect to the tube 20, andtherefore produce a motion which can be converted into a work function.However, the cylinder assembly (or rod) must be connected to asupporting surface in order for the thrust exerted by the rod to producea work function and therefore some form of a mounting arrangement forthe cylinder is necessary.

The mounting arrangement or mounting device 10 of this invention can becharacterized as a so-called side lug" form of cylinder mount. Generallyspeaking, the mounting device 10 comprises a generally U-shaped bar 30of suitable durable hard material such as a tempered steel or the like.Bar 30 has a mid-portion or bight" 32 having top surface 32a, bottomsurface 32b, an outer surface 320 and an inner surface 32d. In addition,the bar 30 is provided with a pair of parallel legs 34 and 36, which arespaced apart and extend transversely relative to the mid-portion 32.Each of the legs also has a top 340, 36a, respectively; a bottom 34b,36b, respectively; an outer surface 360, 36c, respectively; and an innersurface 34d, 36d, respectively.

A pair of openings 38 is provided in the mid-portion 32 for receivingthe tie rods 22 therethrough and the openings are recessed at 40 in theouter surface 320 for receiving the mounting nuts 41. By thisarrangement the mounting bar 30 may be affixed to the pistonvandcylinder device 12.

In addition, each of the legs 34 and'36 is provided with fastenerreceiving openings 42 which extend from the top surface 34a and 36athrough the bottom surface 34b, 36b, respectively, so that a suitablefastening element, such as a bolt or the like, might extend through theopenings 42 to secure the bar 30, and cylinder 12, to a supportingsurface. Preferably, the fastener receiving openings 42 are recessed asat 42a in the top surfacels 34a and 36a of each of the legs 34 and 36,respective y.

It is contemplated that the bar 30 would be made in different sizes fordifferent size cylinders. It is common for cylinder sizes to generallybe denoted by the size of the bore of the cylinder tube, with mountingdimensions being standardized based upon the bore size. For eachdifferent bore size cylinder, it is contemplated that the openings 38would be spaced different distances apart, to receive the tie rods 22with minimum clearance. This dimensional relationship of the openings 38with respect to the tie rods 22 would insure that for every sizecylinder, each dimensionally different bar 30 would be precisely locatedrelative to the lower surface of the end cap of that cylinder. Moreover,it is contemplated that the dimension between the centerlines of thefastener receiving openings or cross-bores 42 in each of the legs 34 and36 would be a precise dimension apart for each different size cylinder,all in accordance with the NFPA standards.

A pair of shoulders are provided in the inner face 32d between the innerfaces 34d and 36d of each leg 34 and 36. The shoulders are defined by apair of spaced apart parallel surfaces 440 and 44b which terminate inreturn surfaces 46a and-46b which join with the inner faces 34d and 36d.In the preferred embodiment, the faces 34d and 36d taper slightlyoutwardly from the juncture with return surfaces 46a and 46b. It isintended that this specific form would be preferably used with acylinder end cap, which is also slightly tapered, as indicated by thesurfaces 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d in FIG. 1.

By way of example, for a 1% inch bore, the preferred dimension betweenthe surfaces 44a and 44b would be 2 inches and the preferred dimensionbetween the juncture of surfaces 46a and 46b with faces 34d and 36dwould be 2.08 inches. Moreover, the length of each leg 34 and 36 fromthe front face 32c to the free end would be 1.607 inches and thedistance between faces 34d and'36d at the free ends of each leg would be2.160 inches. The provision of the mating tapered surfaces on thecylinder end cap and the legs of the mounting member provides theadvantage of a snug facial engagement between the surfaces as themounting member is assembled on the end cap.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, it is preferred that themounting arrangement of this invention would be utilized with a tie rodtype piston and cylinder device. In these types of cylinder devices thetie rods are maintained in a prestressed state. It is desirable that theinner face 32d of the portion 32 be in facial engagement with at least asubstantial portion of the exterior of the end cap 18. This isaccomplished in the illustrated embodiment by making the surface 32d aplanar surface which mates with a substantial portion of the end capbetween the tie rods.

It is to be understood that the faces 34d and 36d do not have to betapered. The mounting arrangement of this invention would still providea secure, stable mounting, so long asthere is firm facial engagementbetween the end cap and the surface 32d, and so long as the fasteningmember which extends through the apertures 42 is firmly secured within asupporting surface. When assembled, the mounting member is, in effect,locked to the cylinder when it is bolted against the head and held inplace by the nuts 41 on the tie rods. The side legs are fixed inposition with the fastener elements extending therethrough to lock thecylinder to a supporting surface. The underside of each leg 34b and 36bis preferably smoothly machined to lie in a position below thecenterline of the cylinder rod, conforming to the NFPA standarddimension for the bore size in volved. The piston and cylinder devicewill be firmly locked against movement in any direction so that the workstroke of the rod may be true and precise, insuring the accuracy of thestroke and prolonging the life of the cylinder. The heads of thecylinder will be firmly secured against the mounting surface, insuringproper height and location of the piston rod. The side lug mounting willconform to dimensional standards yet be demountable upon removal of thesecuring mounting nuts 41.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for 'clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in theart.

We claim:

1. A mounting arrangement for use with a piston and cylinder devicehaving a cylinder tube, a piston rod about a common centerline, oppositeend caps, and tie rods passing through the caps to hold the deviceassembled, comprising: a member having a first portion for dispositionin face abutment with the outer face of an end cap, removable means forconnecting the member to the cylinder end cap abutted; and a pair ofspaced second portions respectively extending beside the cylinder endcap for generally embracing the sides of the end cap, each secondportion including cross-bore means for receiving a fastener elementtherein, said receiving means extending generally in a direction whichis transverse to the length of the cylinder to which the member isconnected, and said cross-bore means being located relative to eachother and to said centerline in predetermined relation.

2. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the member is generallyU-shaped in plan.

3. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the means in the firstportion for connecting the member. to the cylinder end cap comprisesapertures for receiving the tie rods of the piston and cylinder deviceand threaded nuts on said tie rods securing the mounting in assemblywith the cylinder device.

4. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the fastener receivingmeans in the second portion are apertures extending therethrough.

5. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the side surfaces of thecylinder cap are arranged to taper toward the exposed end of the cap andthe mounting member has inner surfaces mating with the side sur.-' facesof the cap when the mounting member is in snug end face abutment withthe end surface of the cylinder cap.

6. The mounting arrangement of claim 11wherein the lower surface of themember is positioned relative to bores through the first portion forreceiving the tie rods so as to position such lower surface in relationto the centerline of the cylinder such that the end caps may be 5secured against a mounting surface by securing the mounting means tosuch surface.

1. A mounting arrangement for use with a piston and cylinder devicehaving a cylinder tube, a piston rod about a common centerline, oppositeend caps, and tie rods passing through the caps to hold the deviceassembled, comprising: a member having a first portion for dispositionin face abutment with the outer face of an end cap, removable means forconnecting the member to the cylinder end cap abutted; and a pair ofspaced second portions respectively extending beside the cylinder endcap for generally embracing the sides of the end cap, each secondportion including cross-bore means for receiving a fastener elementtherein, said receiving means extending generally in a direction whichis transverse to the length of the cylinder to which the member isconnected, and said cross-bore means being located relative to eachother and to said centerline in predetermined relation.
 2. The mountingarrangement of claim 1 wherein the member is generally U-shaped in plan.3. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the means in the firstportion for connecting the member to the cylinder end cap comprisesapertures for receiving the tie rods of the piston and cylinder deviceand threaded nuts on said tie rods securing the mounting in assemblywith the cylinder device.
 4. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 whereinthe fastener receiving means in the second portion are aperturesextending therethrough.
 5. The mounting arrangement of claim 1 whereinthe side surfaces of the cylinder cap are arranged to taper toward theexposed end of the cap and the mounting member has inner surfaces matingwith the side surfaces of the cap when the mounting member is in snugend face abutment with the end surface of the cylinder cap.
 6. Themounting arrangement of claim 1 wherein the lower surface of the memberis positioned relative to bores through the first portion for receivingthe tie rods so as to position such lower surface in relation to thecenterline of the cylinder such that the end caps may be secured againsta mounting surface by securing the mounting means to such surface.